Mumbai records over 700 dengue, malaria cases in September

MUMBAI: The city continues to see a significant surge in vector-borne diseases, specifically malaria and dengue. As per the data released by the BMC on Tuesday, Mumbai has recorded 756 confirmed cases of malaria and 703 cases of dengue within the first two weeks of September.

Both dengue and malaria cases are likely to surpass the figures from August. Last month, there were 1,080 cases of malaria and 999 cases of dengue. The civic authorities attributed the ongoing escalation in cases of dengue and malaria to sporadic rainfall, which creates favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. The public health department, however, didn't reveal how many people have lost their lives to malaria and dengue so far in the monsoon.

The BMC has issued an advisory to combat mosquito breeding, emphasising on the importance of maintaining cleanliness at workplaces, residences, and their surroundings. Even small accumulations of water, such as those found in discarded plastic containers or puddles, can serve as breeding grounds for mosquito larvae. Therefore, it is imperative to remove items like tins, thermocol boxes, coconut shells, that could collect water, it said.